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Avatar universal

Am I at risk for HIV? Experiencing symptoms

Hello,

Thanks for taking my question.

On the 17th of March I visited a strip club in the Dominican. I was heavily intoxicated and one thing led to another and I received protected oral and had protected vaginal sex with a CSW.

The condom was provided by her and to my knowledge it never broke ( I am praying this was not a lamb skin condom). Sex lasted about 30 minutes then I took off the condom and she gave me a handjob until I ejaculated. I fingered her for a few seconds as well.

Exactly 10 days after on March 27th I had groin pain that lasted 3 days. I couldn't tell if the lymph nodes in my groin were swollen. Also since the 27th I have been dizzy/lightheaded, fatigued and have had diarrhea that has been off and on. No fever or rash or sore throat.  The only other concerning thing is my forehead has been warm occasionally. I am really concerned because according to DR HHH ARS starts 10 to 14 days post exposure.

My questions are;

1. Are the symptoms I mentioned consistent with ARS?

2. What is my overall risk in this situation? Is it safe to assume the condom was latex?

3. I am going for an antibody test at 4 weeks simply because I can't wait. How accurate will that be ?



6 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi Ruby,Result was negative 26 days post exposure. I know it's a couple days early. It was a rapid finger prick test. How accurate is that? Can I relax now? I will still get another one in a couple of weeks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is a temp of 99 something to be worried about? Getting the test done today and another on May 2nd. I just couldn't wait any longer
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
Let's chock up yet another point for Google's "Freak Yourself Out" sites.

First thing you need to do is get out there and find all the places your mind went, put it back where it belongs and USE it.

As I said somewhere on here, CSW's do NOT want to contract HIV or STD's anymore than YOU do, and a professional CSW would KNOW that a lamb skin condom is useless for that protection.

I would bet the rent that she provided a latex condom, but the problem I see here is that the seed of doubt has been planted in your head.

What you decide to do at this point is totally your decision. I can't make it for you. Below is what I wrote to you a couple posts back. I don't think you need to test, but this is my humble opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

___________"I think, because I believe you are going to continue to freak about the type of condom used, that for YOUR peace of mind, you should have a 4th generation DUO test done at 28 days post this "exposure." This test will give you a VERY good idea of your status, but you will need a confirmatory test at 12 weeks for a 100% CONCLUSIVE result and absolute PEACE OF MIND."______________

I hope you will keep us updated. We can celebrate your negative status together.
RubyWitch  
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
I very seriously doubt it was a lamb skin condom. I can't believe you can even buy the damn things anymore! They are only good for preventing pregnancy and in this day and age, a CSW is NOT worried about getting pregnant! You have obviously had sex before using latex condoms and you would immediately know the difference between the two.........well, you DID say you were rather "heavily intoxicated," so maybe you wouldn't have. You're also young enough not to remember when "skins" were the only condom available.

The only reason I suggest you test is because you have twice now stated this.............."I didn't provide the condom myself it's just a thought that keeps running through my head." If it's going to keep running through your head, TEST!

Dizziness is NOT a common symptom of ARS. NO MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT SYMPTOMS!

I have ALREADY answered your last question but since I have nothing else to do, I'll answer it again.
If the condom was latex, which is most likely was, you would have ZERO RISK FOR HIV OR OTHER STD'S AND WOULD NOT HAVE TO TEST.

Now answer MY question about how you got the idea this was a lamb skin condom!
RubyWitch

Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Lol. I never had the idea that it was a lamb skin condom until I got home from my trip and started experiencing the symptoms I mentioned. I then started looking through a ton of forums and I came across one post that said you are at zero risk if you used a latex condom or a polyisoprene condom. I guess I didn't realize there were other options for condoms then those two so I googled it and saw that there was all natural lamb skin condoms that were effective for contraception but not for preventing STIs. Then my mind started to go all over the place
370181 tn?1595629445
It's highly unlikely that a professional stripper would use a lamb skin condom. SHE is far more concerned about acquiring HIV from YOU!

What even made you think it was a lamb skin condom?  

If the condom had broken, trust me, you would both have known. When a condom fails, it fails catastrophically. When you removed it, there would be virtually nothing left of it except the band around the base of your penis. This obviously was NOT the case.

Your symptoms are consistent with a cold, the flu or anxiety, with ANXIETY being the major player here. Symptoms are NEVER used to diagnose HIV  

Normally I would say that because you had both protected oral and vaginal, you had no risk and do not need to test. Since I did not see the condom, I can't, with a clear conscious, assure you it WAS a latex condom.

I think, because I believe you are going to continue to freak about the type of condom used, that for YOUR peace of mind, you should have a 4th generation DUO test done at 28 days post this "exposure." This test will give you a VERY good idea of your status, but you will need a confirmatory test at 12 weeks for a 100% CONCLUSIVE result and absolute peace of mind.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks so much for the reply.

I didn't think it was a lamb skin condom. I never used one of those personally so I don't even know what they look like but since I didn't provide the condom myself it's just a thought that keeps running through my head.

I know symptoms are never used to diagnose HIV but the dizziness thing has been the worst. I've looked through this forum and several others and haven't found a clear answer if dizziness is a common symptom with ARS. Do you know if it is?

Also, if it was a latex condom, is my risk zero?

Avatar universal
Forgot to mention I am a 24 year old male
Helpful - 0
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